National Brioche Day Date in the current year: May 14, 2025

Brioche is a rich French bread known for its high egg and butter content. It falls somewhere between bread and pastry because it is made in the same basic way as bread, using ingredients commonly associated with pastry, such as eggs, butter, and milk or cream. Brioche can be served plain or filled with many savory or sweet fillings. Popular fillings include beef tenderloin, foie gras, sausage, vanilla cream, jam, and fruit.

Brioche has been known since at least the 15th century; the first recorded use of the word is dated 1404. The etymology of the word is somewhat murky, but it is generally accepted that it derives from the Old French verb brier, which means “to knead the dough with a rolling pin”.

One of the most famous mentions of brioche can be found in The Confessions of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, where Rousseau mentions “a great princess” who, upon hearing that the peasants had no bread, advised, “Qu’ils mangent de la brioche”. The saying is commonly translated into English as “Let them eat cake” and erroneously attributed to Queen Marie Antoinette, who was nine years old and living in Austria when Rousseau’s book was written.

Brioche dough typically contains flour, butter, eggs, liquid (water, milk, cream, and occasionally brandy), a leavening agent (yeast or sourdough), salt, and sometimes sugar. The ratio of flour to butter is usually 2 to 1, although it can vary. The dough usually rises first at room temperature and then in the refrigerator, which makes it easier to shape and helps develop flavor. Preparation also includes proofing and brushing the top of the loaf with beaten eggs.

Brioche comes in many forms. For example, brioche à tête (brioche parisienne) consists of two balls of dough, a large one on the bottom and a smaller one on top. Brioche de Nanterre is made from several small loaves of dough that are placed in a loaf pan and proofed and baked together, fusing them. It is considered the “classic” form of brioche. Brioche can also be baked in a loaf pan like a regular loaf of bread.

Brioche des rois (King brioche), also known as gâteau des rois, is a festive type of brioche baked in Provence for Epiphany instead of the northern French style galette de rois made with puff pastry. It is a round cake with a hole in the center made with brioche dough and topped with candied fruit and coarse sugar.

National Brioche Day was created by St Pierre, a baking brand known for its delicious authentic brioches. It is dedicated to celebrating brioche as one of France’s most iconic specialties and encouraging people to elevate their meals by using brioche instead of their regular bread. You can join the celebration by picking up brioches at your favorite bakery or making them at home and incorporating them into your meals. And don’t forget to spread the word on social media using the hashtag #NationalBriocheDay.